What is Malware in Computer

Malware is a class of software designed to steal sensitive and valuable information from your computer. It enters the system without your concern and infects your system via an unidentified download or when you visit an infected website or as an attachment to your spam email.

Moreover, the malware is further classified into various types depending on:

  • The way it enters your system
  • How does it spread?
  • What damage does it cause to your system?
  • Does it require human intervention to get triggered? Etc.

Let’s move ahead and discuss malware in detail.

Malware in Computer

  1. What is Malware?
  2. How to Identify that your Device has Malware?
  3. Types of Malware
  4. Protection Against Malware

What is Malware?

Malware is malicious code that enters your system and alters its normal operation. Malware enters your computer through the internet via download or visit to an infected site or through an attachment in an email. The goal of any malware is:

Malware in computer

  • Provides a means for an attacker to use the infected device, and explore it.
  • Steal the important data such as credit card credentials or other financial data.
  • Manipulate the important data present in the computer.
  • Regulate the working of your computer.
  • Erase the crucial information of your system, and there are many other reasons for hackers and cybercriminals.

How to Identify that your Device has Malware?

If malware has entered your system, it will definitely show some symptoms. Some of these symptoms are identified easily, and some remain undetectable.

Malware

  • Sometimes, your system might slow down to the normal speed due to a malware attack. The malware takes over your processing unit, leaving less power for everything else.
  • Some malware replicates themselves, repeatedly consuming the RAM space and freezing or crashing the system.
  • Malware often tries to modify or corrupt the user files in the system, and in some cases, it deletes the system files.
  • In some cases, the malware causes lots of ads and alerts to pop up on your system.
  • Due to a malware attack, the browser may redirect you to websites you don’t want to visit due to a malware attack. In such cases, the malware may have changed the DNS settings.
  • Malware may send weird messages to all in your contacts.

Types of Malware in Computer

  1. Viruses: It comes as an attachment with the email. Once downloaded, it remains dormant in the system and gets activated when the user opens this downloaded file. It is specially designed to alter the behaviour of the operating system.
  2. Trojan: They get into your system in disguise of useful software. Once they enter your system, they may delete or modify your sensitive data.
  3. Worm: It may get into your system via download, visit malicious site or through the network. It replicates once it gets into your system, repeatedly consuming all the system resources.
  4. Ransomware: It is the most popular type of malware used for cybercrime. When this malware attacks the victim’s computer, it encrypts an important file on the system and demands a ransom to return the data of that file.
  5. Adware: Your system will warn you that it is infected, and it will push unwanted advertisements that will force you to buy certain tools to fix your system.
  6. Spyware: This malware is installed on the victim’s computer without his knowledge. It provides

Protection Against Malware

There are several ways to protect your system from malware attacks.

  • Some malware looks for loopholes in your operating system. They take advantage of the weak operating system to enter into your system, so keep your operating system updated.
  • Do not ever click on the pop-ups that ask you to click on a specific link that can navigate you to a malicious website.
  • Avoid sharing your system with others who can misuse your system.
  • Do not unnecessary overload your system with unwanted apps.
  • While surfing the internet, do not click on unknown links.
  • Read the URL carefully before entering the login credentials.
  • Avoid opening emails from an unknown source.
  • Don’t download anything from the untrusted website.
  • And the most unique and reliable way to protect your system from malware is to install a good antivirus on your system.

Thus, we can conclude that though several kinds of malware are present, we can protect our system by taking certain precautions. The system user must always check the system’s behaviour to identify any malware attack as early as possible.

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